ælfþone

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From ælf (elf) + *-þone, so named because it was considered a remedy for ælfādl (elf disease). The second element may be a cognate to þennan (to stretch), referring to the weakly climbing nature of the plant's stalk.

Noun

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ælfþone f

  1. Nightshade (probably the scrambling shrub Solanum dulcamara), as ascribed to (and/or having apotropaic powers against) elves.

References

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